Curb-box.



A. J.TYLER.

CURB BOX.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.17,1909.

Patented June 14,1910.

'2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

L 'will UNITED srAfg-gsgrnnr onirica.

AARON J'. TYLER, 0F ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

CURB-BOX.

Application filed March 17,

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, AARON J. TYLER, citi- Zen of the United States, residing at Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Curb-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to curb boxes and has for its object to provide a strong, durable and a thoroughly efficient device of this character in which the surface box and stand-pipe are permanently connected, while the valve actuating rod and inclosing member are movable independently of the surface box thereby to permit the ready withdrawal of the actuating rod and its associated parts without the necessity of disturbing the surface box.

A further object of this invention is to provide means for locking the stand-pipe against rotation within the casing or housing and means for retaining the sections of the latter in assembled position.

A further object is to provide improved means for supporting the valve within the casing or housing, said valve retaining means also serving to lock the casing sections in contact with each other.

A further object is to provide a cap-piece normally housed within the surface box and having stop shoulders formed thereon for cooperation with a lug or projection on an operating tool or key thereby to limit the turning movement of said key when the latter is actuated to regulate the flow of water or other fluid through the valve casino:

A still further object of the invention is generally to improve this class of devices so as to increase their utility, durability and efficiency.

Further objects and advantages will appear in the following description, it being understood that various changes in form, proportions, and minor details of construcf tion may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims.

For a full understanding of the invention reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of a curb box constructed in accordance with Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented June 14, 1910.

1909. Serial No. 484,049.

my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view taken at right angles to Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a 55 side elevation of the curb box. Fig. t represents in side elevation, top plan and transverse section, views of the stand-pipe and surface box. Fig. 5 represents in longitudinal section and top plan, views of the outer casing or housing. Fig. 6 represents advertical sectional view and transverse sectional view of the tubular rod and casing member, the actuating rod being shown in elevation. Fig. 7 represents a top plan view, a vertical sectional view and bottom plan view of the cap-piece. Fig. S represents views in side elevation, top plan and vertical section of the socket-piece of the actuating rod. Fig. 9 represents a side elevation and top plan view of the pin or key. Fig. 10 represents a side elevation and bottom plan view of the operating tool for effecting the movement of the valve. Fig. 11 represents a top plan. view and side elevation of a modified form of head for the pin.

Corresponding and like part are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The improved curb box comprises a valve casing or housing adapted to be embedded in the ground and preferably formed in two sections 5 and 6, the longitudinal edges of one of which are formed with laterally extended beads or flanges which overlap the adjacent longitudinal edges of the mating section to form a closure 7 at the junction of said sections.

The lower end of each casing section is provided with an inwardly projecting portion 8 which registers with the inwardly projecting portion of the mating section thereby to form a closure for the bottom of the casing and thus prevent ingress of sand, dirt o r other foreign mattei' to the valve or stop-cock indicated at 9.

Extending laterally from the casing sections are opposite disposed perforated lugs 10 which receive bolts or similar fastening 100 devices, and serve to hold the casing sections in assembled position.

Slidably mounted for vertical movement i within the casin is a standaine 1l havinO l D its upper end extended laterally and upwardly to form a surface box 12., the latter being provided with a laterally extended shoulder 13 adapted to receive the peripheral flange 14 of a cover 15.

Slidably mounted Within the stand-pipe 11 is a tubular member 16 to the lower end of which is keyed or otherwise rigidly secured a socket-piece 17 having an angular opening 18 formed therein for the reception of a correspondingly angular valve actuating rod 19.

Secured to or formed integral with the lower end of the actuating' rod 19 is a keyseat member 2O having a socket formed therein for the reception of the head 21 of the valve 9.

The walls of the socket in the member 20 are made to conform to and adapted to bear against the correspondingly angular faces of the head 21 of the valve so as to obtain a good purchase thereon and thus facilitate turning of the valve when the rod 19 is actuated to control the flouv of Water through the valve casing 9. r1`he interior Walls of toe socket of the member 2O are preferably inclined or beveled at 22 to form a finder for the head of the valve and thus assist in guiding the member 2O to operative position in engagement; With said head When said member 20 is positioned thereon.

.Extended inwardly from the sections 5 and 6 of the casing are spaced circumferential stop-ribs 23. there being corresponding flanges 24 formed on the upper and lower ends of the stand-pipe 11 for engagement With stop-ribs thereby to limit the longitudinal movement of the stand-pipe 11.

T he ribs are provided With vertically alined grooves 25 adapted to receive a correspondingly shaped longitudinal guiding rib 26 formed on the exterior Wall of the standpipe 11 thereby to lock the stand-pipe against rotation with respect to the casing or housing, While at the same time forming a means for guiding the stand-pipe when the latter is positioned Within or removed from said casing.

The upper portion of the stand-pipe 117 at its juncture with the surface box 12, is extended laterally to form a seat 27 for the reception of a cap-piece 28, the latter being provided with laterally extended ears or lugs 29 having perforations 30 formed therein and adapted to register with corresponding openings 31 formed in the bottom of the surface box 12 to permit of the insertion of bolts or similar fastening devices, indicate-d at 32 and The angular heads 34 of the fastening device are arranged to bear against the bottom of the surface box 12 While the threaded ends thereof project above the upper surface of the cap-piece 28 for engagement with suitable clamping nuts thereby to lock the cap-piece against accidental displacement.

rThe threaded end of the fastening device is extended through an opening 36 in the cover 15 for engagement With a clamping nut 37, the latter being seated in a pocket or depression 38 formed in the upper surface of the cover, as shown. Thus it Will be seen that the cover 15 forms a housing for the` fastening devices 32 and while the nut 37 serves to retain the cover in closed position on the surface boX thus to prevent the entrance of dirt7 trash and other foreign matter to the interior of the box.

The cap-piece 28 is provided with a centrally disposed well or depression 39 in which is seated the headed end 40 of a pin 41. The lovver end of t-he pin 41 is rigidly secured in any suitable manner to the interior of the tubular member 16 so that rotary movement imparted to the pin will cause a correspondingly rotary movement of the tu bular member and actuating rod 19 thereby to elfect the opening or closing of the valve.

Attention is here called to the fact that the cap-piece 28 forms a closure for the upper end of the stand-pipe While the flange 42 of the pin or bolt 41 serves to prevent the entrance of foreign substances to the interior of the tubular member 19.

1t will also be noted that by having the cap 28 formed independent of the surface box and subsequently attached thereto by the fastening devices 32 and 33 the cap, tubular member and actuating rod may be Withdrawn from or positioned Within the standpipe 11 Withoutdisturbing the position of the surface box.

The withdrawal of the actuating rod and key seatinember 2O is effected by a pin 43 extended transversely of the actuating rod 19 at the upper end thereof, said pin being adapted to bear against the lower Wall of the member 17 When an initial upward movement is imparted to the tubular member 16 so that when a further upward movementis imparted to the tubular member the latter Will liftthe key seat member off of the head 21 of the valve and permit the withdrawal of the parts through the top of the surface box.

As a means for rotating the pin 41 to effect the movement of the valve 9 there is provided an operating key or tool 44 having its lower portion formed with a socket 45 of a shape to correspond with the head of the pin 41 so as to permit the key to be readily positioned on the head Without danger of Wedging or binding action between the parts. Extending laterally from one side of the key 44 is a lug or projection 46 adapted to bear against suitable stop-lugs 47 and 48 formed in the upper face of the cap-piece 28 thereby to limit the turning movement of the key and thus prevent further movement of the valve after the latter has been moved to either open or closed position.

The stop-lugs 47 may be projected vertically above the horizontal plane of the cappiece, but it is preferred to form saidv lugs by cutting a portion of the material away around the well or depression 39 to produce said stop-lugs or shoulders as best shown in Fig. T of the drawings.

Thus it will be seen that by removing the cover l5 and positioning the tool stil on the head of the pin 41 and rotating the latter to the rightI or left a corresponding movement may be imparted to the valve to regulate the passage of water through the valve casing, the head of the pin being provided with a transverse rib 49 in order to enable the operator to determine the position of the valve.

In order to remove the actuating rod at its associated parts it is merely necessary to detach the fastening devices 32 and 33 and exert an upward longitudinal pull on the cappiece when said parts may be readily withdrawn from the standpipe without disturbing or otherwise interfering wit-h the surface box.

The opposite faces of the casing sections may be of any desired contour, but it is preferred to construct the same with flat sides 50 upon which may be stamped or otherwise represented the name and business address of the manufacturer or other suitable advertising matter.

As a means for supporting the valve casing 9 within the valve chamber the latter is provided with oppositely disposed trunnions 5l which extend through suitable openings 52 formed in the adjacent flat faces 50 of the casing o-r housing and are provided with threads for engagement with suitable clamping nuts 53, the latter being adapted to bear against the exterior walls of the side-pieces 50 and thus support the valve against accidental tilting movement so that the head 21 of the valve will always be in position to receive the key seat member 2O when the latter is lowered within the stand-pipe for engagement with said head. The interior walls of the casing o-r housing at the flat sides 50 thereof are preferably extended inwardly to form bearings 54 for the trnnnions l thereby to form a firm support for said trunnions, th c nuts serving to clamp the valves rigidly in adjusted position after the desired adjustment has been effected. In this connection it will be noted that the trunnions 5l perform the double function of supports for the valve casing and as a means for locking the lower sections of the outer casing or housing in assembled position.

The head l() of the pin 4l may be of any desired angular formation, and any suitable shape may be imparted to the head 21 of the valve and the socket of the key seat member 20.

Thile the means employed for rotating the valve is principally designed for use in connection with curb boxes, it will of course be Vunderstood that the same may be used in connectionV with devices in which the curb box is dispensed with or wherever an operating device of this character is found desirable or applicable.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is l. ln a curb box, a valve casing, a standpipe, a surface box permanently secured to the stand-pipe, telescopic members disposed within the stand-pipe, one of which is provided with means for engagement with the valve, and means detachably secured to the surface box and operatively connected with the telescopic members for permitting the withdrawal of said telescopic members from the stand-pipe without changing the position of the surface box or disturbing the valve.

2. In a curb box, a valve casing, a standpipe, a surface box permanently secured to vthe stand-pipe, telescopic members disposed within the stand-pipe, one of which is provided with means fo-r engagement with the valve, a cap-piece secured to the surface box and operatively connected with the telescopic members for permitting the withdrawal of said telescopic members from the stand-pipe without changing the position of the surface box or disturbing the valve, and means for detachably securing the cap-piece in position on the surface box.

3. In a curb box, a valve casing, a standpipe, a surface box permanently secured to the stand-pipe, telescopic members disposed within the stand-pipe, one of which is provided with means for engagement with a valve, a cap-piece detachably secured to the surface box, and a pin rotatably mounted in the cap-piece and operatively connected with one of the telescopic members for permitting the withdrawal of said telescopic members from the standpipe without changing the position of the surface box or disturbing the valve.

4e. In a curb box, a valve casing, a standpipe carried by the casing, a surface box permanently secured to the stand-pipe, telescopic members slidably mounted within the stand-pipe one of which is provided with means for engagement with a valve, a cappiece detachably secured to the surface box and operatively connected with one of the telescopic members for permitting the withdrawal of said telescopic members from the stand-pipe without changing the position of the surface box or disturbing the valve, and a cover forming a housing for the cappiece. i

In a curb box, a valve casing, a standpipe slidably mounted for vertical movey ment within the casing but locked against rotation, a surface box permanently secured to the stand-pipe, telescopic members disposed within the stand-pipe one of which is provided with means for engagement with a valve, a cap-piece housed Within the curb box, a fastening device for detach-ably securing the Acap-piece to the surface box, a key seated in the cap-piece and operatively connected with one of the telescopic members for permitting the Withdrawal of said telescopic members from the standpipe Without changing the position of the surface box or disturbing the valve, and a cover forming a housing for the fastening device of the cap-piece.

G. In a curb box, a casing having a vertical guide groove formed therein and provided with a valve, a stand-pipe having a longitudinal rib arranged to enter the guide groove of the casing, a surface box permanently secured to the stand-pipe, telescopic members disposed Within the st-and-pipe one of which is provided with means for engagement with the valve, a cap-piece forming a closure for one end of the stand-pipe and having a depression therein, a key seated in the depression in the cap-piece and operatively connected with one of the telescopic members and a cover forming a closure for the cap-piece.

7. In a curb box, a sectional casing, a stand-pipe disposed Within the casing, a surface box carried by the stand-pipe, a valve having oppositely disposed threaded trunnions extended through the adjacent sections of the casing, telescopic members disposed Within the stand-pipe, one of which is operatively connected with the valve, a cover for the surface box and clamping nuts engaging the threads on the trunnions and bearing against the adjacent casing sections for locking the latter in assembled position.

8. In a curb box, a sectional casing having inwardly extending ribs provided with vertically alined grooves, a valve disposed Within the casing and provided with oppositely disposed trunnions the free ends of which are threaded and extended through the adjacent lcasing sections, a stand-pipe slidably mounted Within the casing and provided with a rib seated in the grooves of the casing, telescopic members disposed Within the stand-pipe one of which is operatively connected with the valve, asurface box permanently secured to the stand-pipe, a cap^piece housed Within and detachably secured to the surface box, a key having one end thereof provided with an angular head and its other end operatively connected With one o-f the telescopic members, clamping nuts engaging the threaded ends of the trunnions and bearing against the adjacent casing sections for locking the latter in assembled position and the cover for the surface box forming a housing for the cap-piece.

9. In a curb box a casing having a valve, a. stand-pipe slidably mounted Within the casing, telescopic members carried by the stand-pipe, one of which is provided at one end With means for engagement with the valve and at its other end with a transverse pin adapted to engage the mating telescopic section to prevent its Withdrawal from said mating section, a cap-piece housed Within the surface box, ay key seated in the cappiece and operatively connected With one of the telescopic members and a cover for the surface box.

10. In a curb box, a casing having a valve, a stand-pipe slidably mounted Within the casing and having its upper end flared laterally and upwardly to form a surface box, there being a seating recess formed in the stand-pipe at its juncture With the surface box, telescopic members slidably mounted Within the stand-pipe one of Which is provided With means for engagement With the valve, a cap-piece engaging the seat of the stand-pipe and provided with a central Well and oppositely disposed perforated lugs for registration with openings formed in the surface box, fastening devices extended through the perforations in the lugs and openings in said surface box for det-achably securing the cap-piece in position on the surface box, a key having` one end thereof provided With an angular head seated in the Well and its other end operatively connected Wit-h one of the telescopic members, and a cover forming a housing for the cap-piece, one of the fastening devices of the cap-piece being extended through the cover thereby to lock the cover in operative position.

11. In a curb box, a casing, a. valve disposed Within the casing, trunnions projecting laterally from the valve and seated in openings in the casing, a stand-pipe, a sur face box permanently secured to the standpipe, a cap-piece forming a closure for the stand-pipe, fastening' devices for detachably securing the cap-piece to the surface box and a cover forming a housing for the cap-piece and its fastening devices.

12. In a curb box, a sectional casing, a valve disposed wit-hin the casing and provided With oppositely disposed trunnions the ends of which are threaded and projected through openings in the adjacent casing sections, a stand-pipe slidably mounted Within the casing, a cap-piece detachably secured to the surface box and forming a closure for the upper end of the stand-pipe, a cover forming a housing for the cap-piece, and nuts engaging the threads of the trunnions for locking the casing sections in assembled position and rigidly supporting the valve within t-he casing.

13. In a curb box, a valve casing, a standpipe carried by the casing, a surface box secured to the standpipe, telescopic members slidably mounted Within the standpipe, one of which is provided with a socket for engagement with a valve, the interior Walls of said socket at the lower end thereof being beveled to form a finder for the head of the valve, a cap-piece detachably secured to the surface box and operatively connected with one of the telescopic members and a cover for the surface box.

14. In a curb box, a valve casing, a standpipe carried by the casing, a surface box secured to the standpipe, telescopic members mounted within the standpipe, one of which is provided with means for engagement with a valve, a cap-piece operatively connected with the other telescopic member and having a central depression or well, the uppei wall of which is provided with a raised portion, the opposite ends of which form stop shoulders for engagement wit-l1 an operating tool, and a cover for the surface box.

15. In a curb box, a valve casing, a standpipe carried by the casing a surface box secured to the standpipe, telescopic members mounted within the standpipe, one of which is provided with means for engagement with a valve, a cap-piece detachably secured to the surface box and having a central depression or well, and a raised portion on the upper surface thereof, the opposite ends of which form stop shoulders for engagement with an operating tool and a cover for the surface box.

16. In a curb box, a casing, a standpipe slidably mounted within the casing, a surface box on the upper end of the standpipe, a cap-piece for the bottom of the surface box, telescopic members carried by the cappiece, means on the lower portion of one telescopic member for engagement with a valve and means on the upper portion of said telescopic member for preventing its withdrawal from the mating telescopic member.

17. In a curb box, a casing, a standpipe mounted within the casing, a surface box permanently secured to the standpipe, a cap-piece detachably secured to the surface box and forming a closure for one end of the standpipe, an actuating rod disposed within the standpipe and provided with means for engagement with a valve and a cover engaging the surface box and forming a housing for the cap-piece.

18. In a curb box, a casing, a standpipe disposed within the casing, a surface box carried by the standpipe, a valve housed within the casing and provided with oppositely disposed threaded trunnions extending through said casing, a cover for the surface box, and clamping nuts engaging the threads on the trunnions and bearing against the casing for retaining the valve within said casing.

19. In a curb box, a sectional casing, each section of which is enlarged at` its lower end and provided with a flat surface, a standpipe disposed within the casing, a surface box carried by the standpipe, a valve housed within the casing at the enlarged port-ion thereof and provided with oppositely disposed threaded trunnions extending through the flat faces of said casing sections, a surface box secured to the standpipe, a cover for said surface box, and clamping means engaging the threaded ends of the trunnions and bearing against the adjacent fiat faces of said casing sections for holding the latter in assembled position.

20. In a curb box, a casing, a standpipe slidably mounted within the casing and provided with a seat, a surface box carried by the upper end of the standpipe, a cap-piece engaging the seat of the standpipe and provided with oppositely disposed perforated lugs for registration with openings formed in the surface box, fastening devices extend ing through the perforations in the lugs and openings in the surface box for detachably securing the cap-piece in position on said surface box and a cover for the surface box, one of said fastening devices being extended through the cover thereby to lock said cover in closed position.

21. In a curb box, a casing having a vertical guide groove formed therein, a standpipe having a longitudinal rib arranged to enter the guide groove of the casing and provided with a seat, a surface box permanently secured to the standpipe, a cappiece engaging the seat in the standpipe and forming a closure for the upper end of said standpipe, said cap-piece being provided with a depression or well adapted to receive a key, and a cover engaging the surface box and forming a closure for the cappiece.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

AARON J. TYLER. [11. s]

I'Vitnesses W. N. IVooDsoN, SAMUEL N. ACKEP.. 

